Therapeutic Action
Neutralisation of tetanus toxin. Tetanus antiserum provides temporary passive immunity against tetanus for 2 weeks.
PDF page 631
Loading InternPractice…
Drug reference
Neutralisation of tetanus toxin. Tetanus antiserum provides temporary passive immunity against tetanus for 2 weeks.
PDF page 631
Prevention of tetanus in wound management, in patients non immunised or incompletely immunised or in patients whose immunisation status is unknown, in combination with tetanus vaccine Treatment of clinical tetanus
PDF page 631
Do not administer to patients with known allergy to tetanus antiserum. May cause: hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic shock, Quinke oedema; serum sickness up to 10 days after injection. Administer following Besredka's method: inject 0.1 ml by SC route and wait 15 minutes; if no local or general allergic reactions occur, inject 0.25 ml by SC route and wait 15 minutes; if no reactions, administer the injection by IM route. Ensure that the injection does not enter a blood vessel (risk of shock): aspirate prior to injection to confirm that the needle is not in a vein. Pregnancy: no contra-indication Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
PDF pages 631, 632
Solution prepared from the serum of horses immunised against tetanus toxin 1500 IU in 1 ml ampoule, for IM injection. DO NOT ADMINISTER BY IV ROUTE.
PDF page 631
Prevention of tetanus Tetanus antiserum is administered in the event of tetanus-prone wounds, e.g. wounds with fracture, deep penetrating wounds, bite wounds, wounds containing foreign bodies, wounds contaminated with soil, infected wounds, extensive tissue damage (contusions, burns). Child and adult: 1500 IU single dose; 3000 IU if more than 24 hours has elapsed It is administered as soon as possible after injury, along with the tetanus vaccine, in a separate syringe and injection site. Treatment of tetanus Neonate: 1500 IU single dose Child and adult: 10 000 IU single dose
PDF page 631
Equine tetanus antitoxin is not included in the WHO list of essential medicines.
PDF page 632
– Between 2 °C and 8 °C. Do not freeze.
PDF page 632
1500 IU single dose; 3000 IU if more than 24 hours has elapsed
PDF page 631
10 000 IU single dose
PDF page 631